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July 29, 2009

Maya Angelou gets my 100th

I read this statement that my Momma sent me and thought this would be the perfect venue to share Maya's insight...

Go and hug your “Michael” by Maya Angelou…

Yesterday I cried watching the Michael Jackson memorial. I cried for a littleblack boy who felt the world didn't understand him. I cried for a little blackboy who spent his adulthood chasing his childhood. And I thought about all theyoung black boys out there who may too feel that the world doesn't understandthem. The ones who feel that the world does not understand their baggy jeans,their swagger, their music, their anger, their struggles, their fears or thechip on their shoulder. I worry that my son, may too, one day will feel lonelyin a wide, wide world.

I cried for the young children of all colors who may live their life feelinglike a misfit, feeling like no one understands their perspective, or their soul.What a burden to carry.

As a mother, I cried for Katherine Jackson because no mother should ever bury achild. Period. And I think about all the pain, tears and sleepless nights thatshe must have endured seeing her baby boy in inner pain, seeing him strugglewith his self-esteem, and his insecurities and to know he often felt unlovedeven while the world loved him deeply. How does it feel to think that theunconditional love we give as mothers just isn't enough to make our childrenfeel whole? I wonder if she still suffers thinking, "what more could I havedone?" Even moms of music legends aren't immune to mommy guilt, I suppose.

When Rev. Al Sharpto ("who always delivers one" awesome "funeral speech") saidto Michael's children, "Your daddy was not strange....It was strange what yourDaddy had to deal with," I thought of all the "strange" things of the world thatmy children will have to deal with. Better yet, the things I hope they won'tever have to deal with anymore.

And as a mother raising a young black boy, I feel recommitted and yet a littleconfused as to how to make sure my son is sure enough within himself to take onthe world. Especially a "strange" one. To love himself enough to know that evenwhen the world doesn't understand you, tries to force you into its mold ortreats you unkindly, you are still beautiful, strong and Black. How do I dothat?

Today, I am taking back "childhood" as an inalienable right for every brownlittle one. In a world, that makes children into booty-shaking, mini-adults longbefore their time, I'm reclaiming the playful, innocent, run-around-outside,childhood as the key ingredient in raising confident adults. Second, I will notrest until my little black boy, MY Michael, knows that his broad nose isbeautiful, his chocolately brown skin is beautiful, and his thick hair isbeautiful.

And nothing or no one can ever take that away from him."Now aint we bad? And ain't we black? And ain't we fine?

7 comments:

I am without words. I am in awe of Maya's almost divine perception of what makes human beings human. My heart ached as I read this note to every human being who struggles to feel proud and worthy of receiving love and recognition in this often difficult world. God bless Maya for all the wisdom and love she shares through her beautiful words. Gerri, thank you so much for enriching my life today with this post from the "soul". Hooray for your 100th post! You're a beautiful soul too, my friend:)

hey sistah #9--sock it to me one more time--LOL---gurl you hit some very valid points in this post--i too, have a son--he'll be 20 next week and i as a mother i worry about his well being--i dont want him to have a lost soul--he needs to be encouraged by me and my husband daily so he knows he's loved--he went out for a job interview today--so being home alone today, i cried after he left--so many reasons for the tears but i pray that his days be Jesus-and his heart filled with God's love to make it day by day---thank youfor this post---what a way to celebrate your 100th!!!---love ya ma!!

Beautiful! That one question - can we even imagine that all this love we feel for our child might not be enough made me stop. I can't imagine loving Deaglan anymore and yet I'm sure there will be things he feels were missing when he grows up.

Congratulations on your 100 posts. All so soulful and beautiful and just plain positive! Looking forward to a hundred more.

i have to admit this struck me with a bit of fear...i'm a mom with both the same and completely different dilemma at the same time....raising a bi-racial young man, particularly without the benefit of his black fathers input, scares me that i will fall short on instilling the essence of what that part of him means....i do, however, fell capable of teaching him the 'how to be a child' and hopefully stay one for as long as time permits.....amazing post my friend! blessings...

Quote of the Week

"Children come into the world as pure promise. It is up to us to feed and nurture that promise." Anonymous

Voice of the Child

I am here to say I AM a human and I know I deserve dignity. I came to you so you could HONOR MY SOUL, nurture my worth and preserve my spirit. YET, IT IS YOU WHO annihilates my very essence in the name of parenting, IN THE NAME OF LOVE, in the name of teaching. I am a child and I am here TO END THE SHAMING OF ALL OF US. It is time for you, mom and dad, to now look in the mirror, to wake up, to grow up, and become the person you were meant to be... THE PARENT, THE GUARDIAN, THE USHER OF MY SOUL. ~Dr. Shefali Tsabary

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Hi! I'm Gerri Aisha. Welcome to my blog. I'm so glad you stopped by. Here you will find bits about my life. I'm an early childhood coach, writer and photographer. I'm living a creative life! I'm married to my best friend and momma lion to a teenaged son. Sit back, grab a cup of something tasty and enjoy the ride!